Dual wheel assembly



May 13, 1941. c, ASH 2,242,049

DUAL WHEEL ASSEMBLY Filed May 24, 1939 4 Sheets-Sheet l ATTORN EYS IlNVENTOR May 13, 1941. c. s. ASH 2,242,049

DUAL WHEEL ASSEMBLY Filed May 24, 1939 4 SheetsSheet 2 1 INVENTOR-TORNEYJ May 13, 1941. c 5 ASH 2,242,049

DUAL WHEEL AS S EMBLY Filed May 24, 1939 4-Sheets-Sheet 3 4% V I W v /19W 41 ,v M //6 m H6 H9 I99 I16 1/? I 5 :W 27 mm. 9!

DUAL WHEEL ASSEMBLY 2/0 VE TOR v 1 ORNEY3 Patented May 13, 1941 UNITEDSTATES PATENT OFFICE DUAL WHEEL ASSEMBLY Charles S. Ash, Milford, Mich.

Application May 24, 1939, Serial No. 275,438

12 Claims.

Theinvention relates to new and useful improvements in dual wheelassemblies for motor vehicles, and more particularly to suchimprovements in dirigible dual wheel assemblies for the front ends ofmotor vehicles and to improved braking means applicable to suchassemblies and to other dual wheel assemblies.

Objects and advantages of the invention will be set forth in parthereinafter and in part will be obvious herefrom, or may be learned bypractice with the invention, the same being realized and attained bymeans of the instrumentalities and combinations pointed out in theappended claims.

The invention-consists in the novel parts, constructions, arrangements,combinations and improvements herein shown and described. I

'The accompanying drawings, referred to herein and constituting a parthereof, illustrate one embodiment of the invention, and together withthe description, serve to explain the principles of the invention.

Of the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a horizontal section through a dual wheel assembly withbraking mechanism, embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is a horizontal section on the irregular broken line 2-2 of Fig.3;

Fig. 3 is a vertical section on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary detail section on the 'line 4-4 ofv Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary section on Fig. '7 is-a partialelevation, with parts broken away, showing a modified form of brakingmeans;

Fig. 8 is a section on the line 88 of Fig. '1; and

Fig. 9 is a detail section on the line 9-9 of Fig. 7.

The present invention in certain of its features is in the nature of animprovement upon the mechanism shown, described and claimed in my PatentNo. 1,979,598, datedNovember 6, 1934, but in other of its aspects thepresent invention is of more general application.

Objects of the present invention are to provide dual dirigible frontwheel assemblies especially applicable and useful on the front end. ofheavyduty vehicles such as .motor buses, trucks or tractors, andespecially to provide in such dual wheel assemblies simple, sturdy,powerful and which insures application of equal braking force to both ofthe wheels, so that when applied to the dirigible wheels, there is notendency in the vehicle to swerve on application of the brakes; toprovide a statically and dynamically-balanced brake and wheel structureparticularly adaptable to and efliciently independently-rotatabledirigible dual wheels; and especially to provide simple and verypowerful fluid pressure means especially applicable to and useful instructures of the type described. To these ends and as here embodiedthere is provided a brake, dirigible dual wheel assembly havingindependently-rotatable wheels in which a braking device common to bothwheels comprises opposed spaced-apart fiat annular braking members fixedto the respective wheels with a pair of fiat annular oo-axial brakeshoes interposed therebetween, the brake shoes being axially movable toapply and to let ofi' the brakes, the brake shoes being actuated bypowermultiplying lever arms fulcrumed .on one brake shoe and pressingupon the other brake shoe, and

acting against resilient restoring devices, the braking energy beingapplied to the levers from a pressure fluid cylinder. It will beunderstood that the foregoing general description and the followingdetail description as well, are exemplary and explanatory of theinvention but are not restrictive thereof. I

Referring now in detail to the embodiment of the invention illustratedby way of example in the accompanying drawings, an axle beam I has ateither end thereof a knuckle 2, which is embraced within arms 3 and 4 ofa yoke formed on the inner end of a spindle 5, upon which spindle thedual wheels are journaled as hereinafter described. The spindle and itsyoke are mounted to turn on the knuckle on a substantially verticalaxis, and for this purpose a king pin ll extends through alongitudinally-extending aperture l2 in the knuckle 2, and at either endprojects into corresponding apertures formed in the top and bottom yokearms 3 and 4 of the spindle. These ends of the king pin are journaled inbushings l4 and I5 mounted, respectively, in yoke arms 3 and 4, and ananti-friction thrust bearing 6 is interposed between the bottom of theknuckle 2 and the top of the underneath yoke arm 4, to facilitate theturning of the wheel spindles in response to the steering mechanism.Anarm l6 is fixed to. an extension ll of each spindle yoke,

equalized braking mechanism acting equably on and these arms areconnected together and to the steering mechanism of the vehicle in aknown or other suitable manner.

Referring now to the mounting of the dual and frictionally pressed byflat, concentric interposed brake shoes that are concurrently movedwheels upon their spindle 5, they are each provided with broad, nestedhubs so as to give each wheel broad and ample bearing within relativelycompact space. As embodied, roller bearings 24 and 25 are mounted uponspindle 5, and hub 26 of the outboard wheel is rotatively mounted uponthese bearings. Bearing 25 is held axially in position by one racewayabutting on a plate or' flange 21 which is integral with spindle 5, andby the other raceway abutting on an inwardly-projecting flange 28,formed on the interior of the hub 26. Bearing 24 has one racewayabutting on an inwardly-projecting flange 3I formed on the interior ofthe hub 26 and has the other raceway abutting on a nut 32,screw-threaded onto the end of spindle 5. The exterior of hub 26 of theoutboard wheel is finished on two diameters to afiord journal bearingsfor hub 35 of the inboard wheel, which is nested thereover for thereater part of its length, anti-friction bushings 3'6 and 31 beinginterposed between the hubs at these bearings. Thrust bearing washers 39and 39, located at either end of hub 35, take up the'end thrust betweenthe two wheels.

The outboard wheel comprises a circular dished web 44, having a central,annular, inwardly-pro jecting flange 45 which fits within the outer endof its hub 26, and the web is fastened to .the hub by screw bolts 46passing through the web 44 into the end face of the hub. Wheel web 44has circumferentially-arranged, spaced-apart apertures 41, and bolts 48are set in said apertures and pass through corresponding openings 49' inrim-attaching lugs 59, fixed to the tire rim and nuts 52 are threaded onthe bolts to hold the 4 lugs and to hold the rim in position upon thewheel web. Referring now to the inboard wheel,

an outwardly-projecting annular flange 58 is formed near the inner endof the hub 35 of said inner wheel, and a deeply-dished wheel web 59 iscentrally-apertured to pass over its hub 35 and abut against the outerface of flange 58, screw bolts 69 fastening the two parts together. Nearits periphery the dished wheel body 59 has riblike corrugations 63formed therein for strength, the periphery terminating in a flatoutwardlyextending flange 64, which flange has a series ofcircumferentially-disposed spaced-apart apertures 66 formed therein, theflange 64 terminating in the short cyclindrically-extending part 61.Hooked bolts 14 pass through and are set and secured in these aperturesand apertured rim-retaining lugs 12 are set on the bolts 14 and are heldin position by nuts 13 screw-threaded onto bolts 14. 1

Meansare provided for retaining lubricant on the wheel bearings by meansof seating devices at the inner and outer ends of the spindle andhub-mountings, and as embodied, a flanged plate 19 and a sealing ring 99are located between flange 21 of the spindle and the outer raceway ofthe bearing 25, as a closure between the-outer'face of the flange 21 andthe inner end of hub 26 of l the inner wheel. A cap 9| closes'the outerend of the axle structure, abutting on the web 44 of the outboard wheeland fastened thereto by tap apart into braking engagement with saidbrake discs by floating leverage applied by fluid pressure means,thereby effecting equal frictional retardation upon both wheels with theexpenditure of relatively small energy.

As embodied, said braking means comprises an outwardly-extending,annular, shouldered flange 93 formed on the inner end of hub 26 of theoutboard wheel. Fitting into the shouldered recess of flange 93 is anoutwardly-extending, annular flange 94, the two being fastened togetherby tap bolts 96, flange 94 having a flat annular inner surface 91 whichacts as the braking surface of said outboard wheel. Means are providedfor preventing excess heat transfusion from the brake, through the hub,to the roller bearing, and to this end a heat insulating washer 95 isinterposed between the members 93 and 94. The corresponding mechanismfor the inboard wheel comprises a dished ring I92, having an outer,radially-extending flange I93; which seats within flange 64, V

' extending, flat annular part I96, which is the bolts 62. A flangeddrainage or drip ring 94 is located at the inboard face of hub 26 tocatch 1 any dripping oil and a drain pipe 83 drains the surplus oil fromthe bearing and discharges it inside the inner wheel so as to clear thetires and prevent oil from discharging thereon.

In the embodied form of braking means, two concentric, spaced-apartopposed brake discs are fixed to the respective wheels and are engagedbraking surface for the inboard wheel.

Interposed between the concentric brake members 91 and I96 are two brakeshoes, comprising 'two inwardly-channeled annular members H6 and I I1,their inward edges at the sides of the channels being resiliently heldin contact by springs H8 as shown in Fig. 6. On their flat outer annularfaces the brake shoes have friction elements H9 and I29. These brakeshoes are held against rotative movement while free to move axially toeffect the braking action, and as embodied, (Fig. 3) seats I23 and I24are formed therein a diameter apart, and'seated therein are retainingpieces I25 and I26, held in place by screws I29, the retaining piecesalso extending into corresponding apertures I21 and I28 formed in theouter faces of spindle yoke arms 3 and 4. This permits axial but notangular movement of the brake shoes. Means (Fig. 4) .are also providedfor keeping the brake shoes centered, clear of the braking members ateither side, and so that they will turn with the spindle 5, and asembodied, lugs I34 are formed at spaced-apart locations on the innerperiphery of one of these brake shoes. A coacting lug I35 is formed onthe corresponding arm of the spindle yoke. A bolt I36 is screw threadedinto the lug I34, and passes loosely through an aperture in lug I35, anda spring I31 is in compression between the head of bolt I36 and lug I35.The spring I I8 serves to hold the two shoes resiliently together whenno braking pressure is applied, and the spring I31 holds them centeredon the spindle yoke and free from the braking'members. There are thusprovided, flat,

annular, non-rotatable axially movable brake flange 21, which flange isintegral with the spindle 5. A hydraulic cylinder I48 is fixed to plateM6 by bolts I49. Within the cylinder is a piston 56, having on one sidea sealing member I51, held in position by a compression spring I58; Apin I63 has one end nested in a central aperture in the piston I56 andits other end nested in an aperture in a floating equalizing yoke I64.The yoke I64 has forked ends I65 and I66 and seated within the forks,respectively, are the ends I61 and I68 of bent levers I69 and I10. Theselevers project, respectively, through openings I80 and I8I formed in theinterior of brake shoe rings H6 and H1, and-are curved about within, andextend along, the space within the channeled brake shoe members H6 andH1. These levers have, respectively, pivotal mountings, I82 and I83,fixed to the inner face of brake shoe member I I1, and the toe I86 ofeach lever, just beyond its pivot point, bears on a plate I81 fixedwithin the channel portion of brake shoe II6. Cylinder I48 is fixed onspindle 5, as above described, while the equalizing yoke. I64 isfloating, and the levers I69 and I10 are pivotally mounted on brake shoering H1, and bear against brake shoe ring II6, both of which rings areresiliently held in position by the springs H8 and I31. When pressure isapplied in the cylinder I48, the levers move the brake shoes outwardlyagainst their spring, the pressure being exerted against the movablepivot I82 and the movable pressure plate I81, whereby the retardingpressure is exerted equally on both wheels and, due to the long leverarms, with greatly multiplied power.

In Figs. 7, 8 and 9 a modified form of means for applying the brakingpressure is shown, wherein two diametrally-opposite fluid-pressure cyl-V inders and two systems of levers are used. De-

scription of one system applies to both equally. A fiuid pressurecylinder I98, which may be the same as or similar to cylinder I48, isfixed to a plate I99 integral with or fixed to spindle flange 21. Thepiston pin 200 of the cylinder I98 presses against a plate 20I to eitherend of which plate levers 203 and 204 are pivoted at 205 and 206,respectively. These levers extend through openings 201 and 208 in theinner peripheral rims of the brake shoe rings H6 and H1, and the leversare pivoted, respectively, upon brake shoe H6 at 209 and 2). Contactlugs 2I2 are formed on each lever near its pivot point, and these are inengagement with rounded contact plates 2I3 formed on the inner face ofbrake shoe ring II1. Under action of the fluid pressure in cylindersI98, brake shoe rings H6 and H1 are moved apart against the resistanceof their springs II8, and equalized and greatly multiplied pressure isexertedagainst the braking surfaces 91 and I06 of the inboard andoutboard wheels.

The invention in its broader aspects is not limited to the specificmechanisms shown and described but departures may be madeftherefromwithin the scope of the accompanying claims without departing from theprinciples of the invention and without sacrificing its chiefadvantages.

What I claim is: V

1. A dual wheel assembly including in combination a pair of side-by-sidedual wheels mounted for independent rotation, a pair of fiat annularbrake members, one connected to each wheel, a pair of fiat annular brakeshoes between said brake members and means for moving said brake shoesto apply pressure tosaid brake members,

. said means including a lever for moving said brake shoessimultaneously in opposite directions against their respective brakingmembers and means for moving said lever.

2. A dual wheel asssembly including in combination a pair ofside-by-side dual wheels mounted for independent rotation, a pair offlat annular brake members, one connected to each wheel, a pair of flatannular brake shoes between said brake members and means for moving saidbrake shoes to apply pressure to said brake members, said meansincludingresilient means acting to press said brake shoes together and alever for moving said brake shoes simultaneously in opposite directionsagainst their respective braking members and means for moving saidlever.

3. A dual wheel assembly including in combination a pair of side-by-sidedual wheels mounted for independent rotation, a pair of fiat annularbrake members, one connected to each wheel, a pair of flat annular brakeshoes between said brake members and means for moving said brake shoesto apply pressure to said brake members, said means including a leverpivoted to one'of said brake shoes and pressing against the other brakeshoe to move them simultaneously in opposite directions against theirrespective braking members and means for moving said lever.

4. A dual wheel assembly including in combination a pair of side-by-sidedual wheels mounted for independent rotation, a pair of fiat annularbrake members, one connected to each wheel, a pair of flat annular brakeshoes between said brake members and means for moving said brake shoesto apply pressure to said brake members, said means including resilientmeans acting to press said brake shoes together and a lever pivoted toone of said brake shoes and pressing against the other brake shoe tomove them simultaneously in opposite directions against their respective braking members and means for moving said lever.

5. A dual wheel assembly including in combination a pair of side-by-sidedual wheels mounted for independent rotation, a pair of flat annularbrake members, one connected to each wheel,

a pair of fiat annular brake shoes between said brake members and meansfor moving said brake shoes to apply pressure to said brake members,said means including a lever for moving said brake shoes simultaneouslyin opposite directions against their respective braking members and apressure fluid cylinder for moving said lever.

6. A dual wheel assembly including in combination a pair of side-by-sidedual wheels mounted for independent rotation, a pair of flat annularbrake members, one connected to each wheel, a pair of fiat annular brakeshoes between said brake members and means for moving said brake shoesto apply pressure to said brake members, said means including resilientmeans acting to press said brake shoes together and a lever pivoted toone of said brake shoes and pressing against the other brake shoe tomove them simultaneously in oposite directions against their BESTAVAILABLE COPY opposite points to move said brake shoes simultaneouslyin opposite directions against their braking members and means formoving said levers.

8. A dual wheel assembly including in combination a pair of side-by-sidedual wheels mounted for independent rotation, a pair of flat annularbrake members, one connected to each wheel, a pair of flat annular brakeshoes between said brake members and means for moving said brake shoesto apply pressure to said brake members, said means including resilientmeans acting on ,said brake shoes at substan- ,tially a diameter apartto press said brake shoes togetherand a pluralityof levers engaging saidbrake shoes at diametrally opposite points to move said brake shoessimultaneously in oppomembers and a pressure fluid cylinder for movingsaid levers.

10. A dual wheel assembly including in combination a pair ofside-by-side dual wheels mounted for' independent rotation, a pair offlat a'nnular'brake members, one connected to each wheel, a pair of flatannular brake shoes between said brake members and means for moving saidbrake shoes to apply pressure to said brake members, said meansincluding a plurality of levers, each pivoted to one of said brake shoesand, pressing against the other of said brake shoes, said pivot andpressure points for the levers being substantially diametrally oppo--site and meansfor moving said levers.

11 A dual wheel assembly including in combination a pair of side-by-sidedual wheels mounted for independent rotation, a pair of flat annularbrake members, one connected to each wheel, a pair of'fiat annular brakeshoes between said brake members and means for moving said brake shoesto apply. pressure to said brake members, said means including aplurality of levers, each pivoted to one of said brake shoes andpressing against the other of said brake shoes, said pivot and pressurepoints for the levers being substantially diametrally opposite and apressure fluid cylinder for moving said levers.

12. A dual wheel assembly including in combination a pair ofside-by-side dual wheels mounted for independent rotation, a pair offlat annular brake members, one connected to each wheel, a pair of flatannular brake shoes between said brake members and means for moving saidbrake shoes to apply pressure to said brake members, said meansincluding resilient means acting to press said brake shoes together anda plurality of levers, each pivoted to one of said brake shoes andpressing against the other of said brake shoes, said pivot and pressurepoints for the levers being substantially diametrally opposite and meansfor moving said levers.

CHARLES S. ASH.

